CSF levels of cyclic nucleotides and adrenergic metabolites in malignant gliomas

Recent advances indicate that cyclic nucleotides and perhaps certain adrenergic metabolites might be directly involved in contact-inhibition mechanisms and tumoral cell growth. CSF levels of 3'-5' cAMP, 3'-5' cGMP, HVA, and 5-HIAA were investigated in patients with supratentorial malignant gliomas, brain stem gliomas and posterior fossa medulloblastoma. cAMP levels were slightly decreased only in medulloblastomas, whereas no significant difference was detectable in patients with supratentorial gliomas. cGMP values turned out to be significantly higher, with a very peculiar increase in the most anaplastic neoplasms. Postoperative follow-up showed a gradual decrease of cGMP values, with progressive restoring of a normal cAMP/cGMP ratio. The possible correlation of these findings with CSF levels of HVA and 5-HIAA is discussed

Cyclic nucleotides in medulloblastomas: correlative study of tumoral and cerebrospinal fluid levels

The tumoral and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of cyclic nucleotides and of the main adrenergic metabolites (homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacaetic acid) were investigated in a group of children with posterior fossa medulloblastomas. A longitudinal evaluation of CSF change of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and adrenergic metabolites before and after surgical removal of the tumor mass is presented. Some preliminary patterns concerning correlative levels in the neoplastic tissue are discussed. The relevant increase of cGMP in medulloblastoma specimens and in CSF samples operation and the rapid decrease in the CSF after surgical removal of the tumor seem to suggest a possible role of cyclic nucleotides in the neoplastic growth of these tumors. (Neurosurgery, 7: 359-362, 1980)

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of cyclic nucleotides and monoaminergic metabolites in subarachnoid haemorrhage: preliminary report

c-AMP, c-GMP, HVA and 5 HIAA cerebrospinal fluid levels were investigated in 18 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The main findings in the acute stage after SAH were represented by a marked increase of c-AMP and 5 HIAA values, whereas HVA levels were only slightly higher. In the chronic phase c-GMP levels turned out to be significantly increased, and were clearly related to intracranial hypertension. 5 HIAA and particularly HVA levels were decreased, probably due to the functional and anatomical lesion of the periventricular adrenergic structures, following the raised intracranial pressure